Medal of Honor: Charles A. MacGillivary – World War II – France – January 1945
In darkness, snow, and close-range combat, he chose to go alone. Against entrenched machineguns, his courage opened the way for his company to advance.
January 1, 2026
Name: Charles A. MacGillivary
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company I, 71st Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division
Place: Near Woelfling, France
Entered Service At: Boston, Massachusetts
Born: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Summary of Action
On 1 January 1945, Sergeant Charles A. MacGillivary led a squad forward in darkness near Woelfling, France, as American forces moved to counter a potential breakthrough by elements of the 17th German Panzer Grenadier Division. Assigned to protect his company’s left flank, he discovered enemy troops digging in and reported their presence just as multiple German machineguns opened fire, halting the advance.
Fully aware of the danger, Sergeant MacGillivary volunteered to neutralize one of the enemy machinegun positions while other elements maneuvered to assault the remaining strongpoints. Moving alone through woods and snow, he carefully worked his way to the emplacement and, at a range of only three feet, killed the two camouflaged gunners, forcing nearby enemy troops to withdraw.
Later that same day, while conducting reconnaissance, Sergeant MacGillivary discovered that his company faced intense resistance from multiple machineguns supporting a determined German force. When the American attack was pinned down by heavy automatic and small-arms fire, he again acted on his own initiative. Undertaking a lone combat patrol, he skillfully used available cover to stalk the enemy, destroyed one machinegun crew with a grenade, and seized a submachine gun from the battlefield.
Pressing forward, he closed to within ten yards of another machinegun and charged directly into the crew as they attempted to bring their weapon to bear, killing them at close range. Without hesitation, he continued his one-man assault, creeping and rushing from tree to tree until he reached yet another emplacement, where he destroyed the crew with grenades and rifle fire. In this final action, Sergeant MacGillivary was seriously wounded.
By his fearless initiative, relentless determination, and complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant MacGillivary destroyed four enemy machinegun positions and enabled his company to continue its mission with minimal casualties.
Medal of Honor Citation
Knowing the position of the enemy, Sgt. MacGillivary volunteered to knock out one of the guns while another company closed in from the right to assault the remaining strong points. He circled from the left through woods and snow, carefully worked his way to the emplacement and shot the two camouflaged gunners at a range of three feet as other enemy forces withdrew.
Early in the afternoon of the same day, Sgt. MacGillivary was dispatched on reconnaissance and found that Company I was being opposed by about six machineguns reinforcing a company of fanatically fighting Germans. His unit began an attack but was pinned down by furious automatic and small-arms fire. With a clear idea of where the enemy guns were placed, he voluntarily embarked on a lone combat patrol.
Skillfully taking advantage of all available cover, he stalked the enemy, reached a hostile machinegun and blasted its crew with a grenade. He picked up a submachine gun from the battlefield and pressed on to within ten yards of another machinegun, where the enemy crew discovered him and feverishly tried to swing their weapon into line to cut him down. He charged ahead, jumped into the midst of the Germans and killed them with several bursts.
Without hesitation, he moved on to still another machinegun, creeping, crawling, and rushing from tree to tree, until close enough to toss a grenade into the emplacement and close with its defenders. He dispatched this crew also, but was himself seriously wounded. Through his indomitable fighting spirit, great initiative, and utter disregard for personal safety in the face of powerful enemy resistance, Sgt. MacGillivary destroyed four hostile machineguns and immeasurably helped his company to continue on its mission with minimum casualties.
